I was sitting in the cafeteria at work the other day talking with two co-workers. One is an unabashed socialist, the other an eco-nut. Then there's me. We were discussing politics, as is our wont, because the three of us feel that thinking people can have a discussion about politics, while firmly disagreeing, and through such discourse reach an agreement, based on common ground. Which explains why we are a technician, a carpenter, and a painter, and not a Senator, Representative, and a President. Or talk show hosts. As we covered many and varied topics we decided that there hasn't really been a good president in our lifetimes. We all agreed that the both the economic system and the political system were broken, and oddly on several fixes. The main fix for the economy we decided on is to adopt protectionist trade agreements. If we are the only country putting the needs of the world ahead of our own, we are doing it wrong. Not a ban on imports mind you, but rather a legal framework to put American interests ahead of all others. Essentially adopt the same policies that have served the European Union and others so well. Fixing politics would involve setting all primaries on the same day. Simple enough.
It was at this point that another co-worker, sitting nearby, chimed in with: "It's good to see that so many people qualified to run the country work here with me." Without missing a beat I answered with: "We are all qualified, that's how it works in this country. We are all qualified for the presidency, even you." But this exchange got me thinking, this person is not the first to utter those words. Nor will he be the last.
Aside from the fact that the Painter, Carpenter, and Technician have a higher aggregate I.Q. than the Actor, the Philanderer, the Oil-Baron, and the Man so Bland he has no distinguishing characteristics (Including, sadly political opinion); we are all qualified to run the country just by being citizens. But the common consensus is that the "common man" is not a fit leader. That only those born to privilege, or those who own sufficient wealth through their own efforts, are fit to hold political office. This belief persists despite all evidence to the contrary, and despite our founding fathers having fought a war over just how idiotic the idea of a ruling class is.
I was saddened for a long time about this, not because one man is so ignorant, not because he is far from being alone, and not because my message didn't seem to sink in. I was sad because he was choosing to be a subject. I say choosing because we have the means in this country for anyone to elevate themselves as far as they are willing to spend the effort to go. We are loosing that quickly though.
We let Wall Street pick our leaders. We let our patent system devolve to the point that only companies can acquire them. We allow government to decide what rights we have, and when. We divide ourselves along "party" lines when most of us share the middle ground. And we do not act to fix these things because we aren't "qualified". I leave you with a question, for I love the Socratic method: What college, trade school, or apprenticeship, offers a degree in "Running the free world"?
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Keep it clean and well thought out.